Mail-box



(No Model.)

0. P. JOHNSTON.

MAIL BOX.

No. 525,498. Pafiented Sept. 4, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

OLIVER P. JOHNSTON, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,498, dated September 4, 1894.

Application filed March 3, 1894. Serial No. 502,260, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER P. JOHNSTON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte city, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mail boxes, and the object of my invention is the provision of a mail box possessing the requisites of simplicity and cheapness inaddition to being safe against burglary and the damaging influences of the weather.

To attain the desired objects the invention consists of a mail box embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved mail box. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view with the parts in their normal or closed position in full lines and in dotted lines with the parts in the position they assume when the box is receiving mail. Fig. 3 represents a detail view to show the construction of the bottom of the box.

In the drawings A designates the box or receptacle, having the curved top B forming ashed, said top portion being provided with a letter receiving slot 0, and the box having the hinged bottom D, provided with the extension E, which serves when the lid or bottom is moved down to throw the letters from the corner of the box out into the mail receiving pouch, and the bottom is provided with the strap hinge which engages the link or staple for locking the bottom of the box.

In the upper portion of the box is pivoted or hinged the chute F, having the curved sides G, which correspond to the curved guard plate H, and to the hinged coverJ, said cover having the lug K, which when the chute is pressed down engages the casing of the box and opens the cover as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and the casing holds the cover closed normally as shown in Fig. 2. The chute is provided with the handle L, for tilting the near the top at the front thereof, the rectansame to permit the insertion of the letters and the spring M, is employed to retain the chute in its normal position when not receiv-' ing mail.

It will be seen that. normally the box is entirely closed so that it is impossible to extract mail therefrom and also when mail is being inserted the chute closes communication with the box proper and access cannot be had to the contents of the box by any other than the lawful means. It will also be noted thatthe box is of simple, durable and inexpensive con 65 struction; also of ornamental appearance and possessing the other requisites is entirely practical and useful;

I claim 1. A mail box consisting of the casing having the opening, the chute composed of the upper and lower and end walls and pivoted in the opening, the cover hinged to the upper wall of the chute at the front end thereof and having a lug for engaging thecasing to open the cover, and a spring connected to the box and to the lower wall of the chute for retaining the chute in its normal position.

2. A mail box consisting of the casing having the opening, the rectangular chute pivoted in said opening and having the inner and outer ends open, the guard at the rear of the casing to close the rear or inner end of the chute when receiving mail, the cover at the front end of the chute having the lug adapted to engage the casing and lift the cover for opening thechute to receive the mail.

3. A mail box consisting of the casing having the hinged bottom, the receiving opening O gular chute pivoted in said opening and hav- 9 ing the inner and outer open ends, the curved guard plate in the casing for closing the chute at the inner end when receiving mail, the spring connected to the casing and to the chute, the cover hinged to the upper wall of the chute at the outer end, and the lug on the cover adapted to be struck by the casing to open the outer end of the chute.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER P. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

BARCLAY J ONES, F. H. WILGOMB. 

